The Work

We aspire to cure the mountain of global blindness, one patient at a time.We work to overcome barriers impeding delivery of cataract care to underserved, needlessly blind people in the developing world. At the core of our work is our goal to achieve high-quality, low-cost eye care that can be sustained in the developing world for the long-term.

Where We Work

In 2017, HCP and its partners provided more than 1.5 million screenings and performed more than 115,000 surgeries across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to strengthen and grow eye care systems in these regions, HCP has also been providing education and training. Since 2005, HCP has trained over 300 ophthalmic personnel from 19 countries. Read more about our global efforts in our 2017 Annual Report (PDF 2.1 MB).

Percentage of blindness due to cataracts

Nigeria

Population

Number of blind and visually impaired age 40+

Percentage of blindness due to cataracts

Malawi

Population

Total blind and impaired vision

Number with cataract blindness or impaired vision

160,000

Ratio of cataract surgeons per capita

1 : 1,000,000

Rwanda

Population

11,777,000

Number of blind

30,000

Percentage of blindness due to cataracts

65

Nepal

“Gift of Sight” is an independent documentary that features HCP co-founder Dr. Sanduk Ruit with a trainee from Indonesia as they visit communities paralyzed by preventable blindness and work to restore sight, and more importantly hope.

Ethiopia

Working with ophthalmic staff at 14 hospitals and clinics in seven regions across the country, HCP and its partners are developing a robust eye care delivery system that is making great strides in eliminating avoidable blindness in Ethiopia.

Ghana

Bhutan

The Himalayan Cataract Project has been working with the Royal Government of Bhutan for 17 years to expand its system of eye care. In 2014, one ophthalmologist and two ophthalmic nurses completed a four-week course in cataract surgery at Tilganga, and Dr. Phuntsho Dorji completed his second year of residency. Dr. Robert Hoffman returned to Bhutan for his annual mentoring trip to work with Dr. Dechen Wangmo on pediatrics cases and provide care to children in schools for the blind.

India

HCP efforts in India have gradually expanded to include training and equipment support for programs in three regions. The Jamgon Kongtrul Eye Centre in Kalimpong provides primary eye care to patients from the Darjeeling District. Its central mission is to provide care to the thousands of patients across the region who cannot afford it.

Rwanda

Why Support the Himalayan Cataract Project?

Our doctors have performed more than 445,000 cataract surgeries in the developing world through walk-in clinics and high-volume, improvised mobile eye camps. Some 18 million needlessly-blind cataract patients still await care, most of them with no place to turn.

The Himalayan Cataract Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.Principal photography provided by Ace Kvale, Michael Amendolia, and other photojournalists who have generously supported our work. Site design and development by Flannel

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